North End/Waterfront Neighborhood Council

 NEWNC MINUTES
Monday, March 8, 2010
Nazzaro Center, 30. N. Bennet St.

1.    Call to order – Stephen Passacantilli – 7:07 p.m.

2.    Roll call – Stephen Passacantilli – all present except Luciana Burdi, Jorge Mendoza and David Marx

3.    Meeting Protocol – Marie Simboli

4.    Update from the Office of Neighborhood Services — Nicole Leo

5.    Report from the offices of local elected officials – Councilor LaMattina will attend the 3/16 Clean Streets Committee; On 3/23, 1 p.m., the City Council will hold a Segway hearing in the Council chambers; Francine Gannon expressed the thanks of the neighbors to Sal’s office – the C.V. license for Boston Gliders was not approved.

6.    Committee reports
       A.    Public Safety – In February, most crimes showed decrease. The only increases in crime were in the minor offenses. Cross Street meeting: City and state officials discussed one plan that is being discussed and is being modified that is aimed at increasing pedestrian safety; next Public Safety committee meeting will be 4/1 at 6:30 p.m.
       B.    Greenway –
            On 3/9, 6:00pm, there will be a second community meeting at 185 Kneeland St. to inform the community about plans to place the Boston Harbor Pavilion on Parcel 14. This meeting will include discussions of shade and furniture on some additional parcels.
            There is also going to be discussion of food vending, at least on the Circle Fountain parcel, and perhaps others. Stephen suggests that if North Enders aren’t comfortable with having vending in the neighborhood parcels, they should email info@newncboston.org, and those concerns will be forwarded.
            There will be a signature event on Mother’s Day centered on the Mother’s Walk.
            The Armenian Heritage Foundation is very close to getting final BRA approval and should soon go out to bid.

            This Wednesay, 3/10, 7 p.m., at Nazarro, Sen. Petruccelli and Rep. Michlewitz will be holding a legislative open house for all residents.
            There is a Greenway District Planning on 3/18, 6:00 p.m., meeting at City Hall, 9th floor, to discuss a draft plan for a number of Greenway District parcels.

7.    31 Tileston Street, Mirella Petruccelli has filed for a zoning relief as part of a renovation of three residential units on floors 2, 3 and 4.  Extension of nonconforming commercial use (first floor) is the reason indicated for relief although commercial use is not intended. There are no changes planned to the exterior of the 4-story building.
            George Morancey represented the applicant, Mirella Petruccelli, who is a neighborhood resident who was not present because she is caring for her ill father in Florida. The property has been in the same family for decades. The commercial use that it once hosted is now dormant, and the family believes that the building needs a great deal of interior renovation to bring it up to a more attractive condition. This project will renovate floors 2-4 of the four-story building, including more structural support. A refusal letter was issued, but George believes it was issued in error because this building will not be physically extended in any way, and there will be no roof decks or other decks. The owner will not continue the ground-floor commercial use, and in fact might later try to convert the first floor into a residential unit, once she has tenants on the upper floors whose rent can be used to help finance the ground-floor renovation. The certificate of occupancy will be for only floors 2-4, one-bedroom units of 700-800 square feet, and will be used for rental only, not for sale. These units comply with density limitation specifications of the zoning code.
            Anne: dumpster use? George said virtually all demolition work has already been done. No dumpster will be used in the project for excavation and clean out, and all work will be hand labor.
            Ryan: timetable? George said about 6 months, including mostly interior finish work.
            ZBA date is March 23.
            Nicole Leo: What effect will the work have on neighboring buildings? George: Virtually none.
            Stephen: abutters? George said abutters have been notified.
            Phil Orlandella: Garbage? Rodent control? George: there is a rear area where trash is held. As for rodents, the only thing that will take place is interior construction, and George will follow up.
            Bobby moved to approve, Matt seconded. Motion approved 7-0.

8.    Felix Arroyo, City Councilor-At-Large provided an update on his 2010 agenda.
            Felix discussed some issues he’s working on. He’s on the youth affairs committee, and that committee is trying to provide youth jobs in the city.
            Felix is working with Mike Ross to help small businesses and restaurants to buy and install surveillance cameras.
            Felix is chairing a committee for the census. For every person not counted in the census, the city loses $1,500. The census is hiring in the neighborhood for jobs paying $22 per hour, and Felix suggested people call his office at 617-635-4205.
            Felix has been working with Aaron and with Sal LaMattina to better understand issues that concern the North End.
            Bill: concerns over library closure. Felix replied that that news is not good for library branches citywide, but the branches have not been specified the targeted branches. Felix says the closures have to be done fairly citywide, including neighborhoods that have multiple branches. His priorities include Boston Center for Youth and Families, Boston Public Library, BPL and Boston Public Health.
            Bobby: He congratulated the Councilor for being here in the neighborhood when it’s not all about getting re-elected.
            Francine Gannon thanked him for helping defeat Boston Gliders.
            Victor Brogna: Would library closures be temporary or be listed as surplus properties? Felix said it hasn’t come to that point in the decision-making process.
            Jon: Hopes there will be effort into finding year-round youth jobs in addition to those that are created during the summertime. Felix says year-round employment is important. He’s trying to pressure businesses, including the big-box stores, to look at Boston’s young workers. He’s working on a comprehensive youth agenda. He says the real way to win the battle for year-round youth jobs is to work with the businesses to provide the jobs. He also wants to put emphasis on activity programs with neighborhood partners to keep youth busy and out of trouble.

9.   Meeting adjourned: 8: 10 p.m.